Capitol Threat

Ben Kincaid, still serving as interim US Senator from Oklahoma, has been asked to assist Judge Thaddeus Roush as the judge is questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee for appointment to the Supreme Court. The President announces Roush as his choice and as Roush makes his acceptance remarks he decides that he must come clean with his secret. Roush confesses that he is gay and that he has been in a committed relationship with his boyfriend, Ray, for seven years. His announcement shocks the gathered dignitaries and the ensuing chaotic scene keeps Roush from continuing his speech. He instead suggests that he hold his own press conference the next day at his home. During the conference, however, a woman's body is discovered and it is show more thought that Ray may be the killer. Now embarrassed by Roush, the senators, president and various lobbyists want Roush to withdraw his name from nomination but he refuses. Ben does his best to keep Roush from being destroyed by ugly rumors and outright lies while he tries to learn the identity of the dead woman and her connection to the judge.

I've been a Ben Kincaid fan for quite a few years now but I don't really enjoy him in a political setting. As a trial lawyer in Oklahoma he is great but this "Capital" trilogy is not Bernhardt's best work. I'd say at least 3/4 of the book was political speeches and committee meetings and the other 1/4 was devoted to the mystery, which was actually a pretty good one. It just got lost in all of those pages of words, words, words. show less

excellent writer
mystery intrigue